Wendy ThomasWendrowski
Senior Counsel
Construction
wwendrowski@seyfarth.com
Wendy ensures that her clients' interests are protected in their construction contracts and related agreements, and she zealously represents them in construction-related claims and disputes.
More About Wendy
Clients involved in the construction process need effective legal counsel to negotiate and implement contract terms that best protect their interests against those of other stakeholders involved in the construction project. Wendy prepares, negotiates, and assists with the implementation of construction contracts and other related agreements for entities involved with or impacted by construction projects. Wendy also advises clients about potential claim matters and other disputes arising during the construction process, so they may be effectively resolved, prosecuted, or defended.
Wendy focuses on providing cost-effective and efficient legal services. She developed uniquely tailored form contracts as the basis for most construction projects with which her clients are involved. These form contracts are especially beneficial for smaller-value projects for her condominium and cooperative apartment clients, because they help to minimize the amount of legal fees incurred to prepare and negotiate the contracts for these projects. Wendy also has significant experience preparing and negotiating construction access license agreements, representing both licensees and licensors, as well as in-court proceedings seeking (or ensuring reasonable terms for) such access.
Wendy began her legal career as a litigator representing government-entity owners in large-scale disputes against general contractors and sureties. After nearly two decades in private practice, Wendy taught construction contract law and construction communications in an undergraduate engineering and construction management program for eight years. There she was able to teach future construction professionals by applying details from real-world construction projects to demonstrate the meaning and application of construction contract provisions, and to illustrate how to effectively document challenges arising on construction projects. Wendy also taught workshops to construction professionals on a wide variety of construction law topics. She leverages her in-depth knowledge of construction contract provisions and extensive litigation experience to guide clients through the entire construction process, from contract drafting, to project counseling, to claims analysis, through dispute resolution.
Wendy focuses on providing cost-effective and efficient legal services. She developed uniquely tailored form contracts as the basis for most construction projects with which her clients are involved. These form contracts are especially beneficial for smaller-value projects for her condominium and cooperative apartment clients, because they help to minimize the amount of legal fees incurred to prepare and negotiate the contracts for these projects. Wendy also has significant experience preparing and negotiating construction access license agreements, representing both licensees and licensors, as well as in-court proceedings seeking (or ensuring reasonable terms for) such access.
Wendy began her legal career as a litigator representing government-entity owners in large-scale disputes against general contractors and sureties. After nearly two decades in private practice, Wendy taught construction contract law and construction communications in an undergraduate engineering and construction management program for eight years. There she was able to teach future construction professionals by applying details from real-world construction projects to demonstrate the meaning and application of construction contract provisions, and to illustrate how to effectively document challenges arising on construction projects. Wendy also taught workshops to construction professionals on a wide variety of construction law topics. She leverages her in-depth knowledge of construction contract provisions and extensive litigation experience to guide clients through the entire construction process, from contract drafting, to project counseling, to claims analysis, through dispute resolution.
- JD, William and Mary Law School
Administrative Law Review, editor
- BA, College of William and Mary
- California
- District of Columbia
- New York
- US Court of Federal Claims
- US District Court, Central District of California
- US District Court, Northern District of California
- US District Court, Southern District of California
- US District Court, District of Columbia
- US District Court, District of Idaho
Related Services
Related Key Industries
- Represented a 60-story condominium building in connection with multimillion-dollar, multiyear façade repair/restoration project; prepared and negotiated the construction contract with the general contractor and four separate construction access license agreements (two with the owners of adjacent properties, one with the tenant preschool of one of the adjacent properties to allow for the preschool to utilize the client’s courtyard as a play area while their roof-top playground was unavailable, and one with the client’s penthouse terrace owner whose terrace would be impacted by the façade project); served as project counsel to assist in the resolution of numerous disputes arising on the project.
- Simultaneously represented 10 private residential property owners, all of whose back yards bordered a site where a school was to be constructed, to prepare and negotiate coordinated construction access license agreements with the school district.
- Represented a 48-story cooperative apartment building in connection with a multimillion-dollar window replacement and façade repair/restoration project; prepared and negotiated the construction contract with the general contractor and a multiphased construction access license agreement with an adjacent property owner and three shareholders; separately prepared and drafted numerous other construction contracts, including for shareholders to have certain window replacement and wall work performed, for elevator repair work, for elevator modernization work, for removal of a gas riser, and for balcony railing extensions.
- Represented a 15-story cooperative apartment building in connection with a façade repair/restoration project; prepared and negotiated the construction contract; prepared and negotiated two construction access license agreements with adjacent property owners, each of whom was also performing a façade repair/restoration project, which required careful coordination of construction work and protection work.
Related News & Insights
-
Attorney Publication
12/14/2023
Now Available! Seyfarth’s 50 State Lien Law Notice Requirements Guide (2023-2024 Edition)
-
Speaking Engagement
Mar 12, 2022
Wendy Wendrowski a Panelist During ASCE-CI Summit & CRC Joint Conference
-
Legal Update
Jun 8, 2020
New York City’s Construction Restart: What Should A Project Owner Expect from Its General Contractor?
-
Legal Update
Apr 9, 2020
New York City’s Construction Shutdown: What if Your Project Is Essential or Necessary to Protect Public Health and Safety? What if Your Project Needs to be Shut Down?
- Women in Construction, Inc. (board of directors, programming committee, scholarship committee)
- American Society of Civil Engineers, Journal of Legal Affairs and Dispute Resolution in Engineering and Construction (editorial board, associate editor)
- American Society of Civil Engineers Construction Institute, Claims Avoidance and Resolution Committee (secretary)
- ACE (Architecture, Construction, Engineering) Mentor Program, District of Columbia (board of directors, governance committee, scholarship committee, alumni committee)
- Alzheimer’s Association, Legal Industry Leadership Council (member)
- Co-Author, "The Government Contract Compliance Handbook, 6th," Federal Publications (2024)
- Author, "New York City’s Construction Restart: What Should A Project Owner Expect from Its General Contractor?," Legal Update, Seyfarth Shaw LLP (June 8, 2020)
- Author, "New York City’s Construction Shutdown: What if Your Project Is Essential or Necessary to Protect Public Health and Safety? What if Your Project Needs to be Shut Down?," Legal Update, Seyfarth Shaw LLP (April 9, 2020)
- Author, "New York City’s Construction Shut Down: What About Façade Projects?," Legal Update, Seyfarth Shaw LLP (March 30, 2020)
- Author, "Construction project documentation: explaining business records exception to the rule against hearsay," International Law Office (January 30, 2017)
-
Panelist, “Changes Impacting Construction Projects for Co-ops and Condos,” New York State Bar Association, Committee on Condominiums and Cooperative Apartments (June 13, 2024)
- Panelist, "The Examination of a Claim: Understanding My Risks," American Society of Civil Engineers Construction Institute’s CI and CRC Joint Conference 2024 (March 22, 2024)
- Speaker, "Access to Adjacent Properties: Protection, Fees, and Court Intervention," New York State Bar Association (January 19, 2023)
- Speaker, "Recognizing Time Impacts and Avoiding Construction Claims," ASCE-CI Summit & CRC Joint Conference, Arlington, VA (March 12, 2022)
- Speaker, “Beware of Financial Risks That You May Accept in Your Contracts - A Discussion of Indemnity Obligations,” ASCE-CI Summit, Los Angeles, CA (February 22, 2020)
- Adjunct Professor, “Construction Contracts and Law,” Boise State University, College of Engineering, Department of Construction Management, Boise, Idaho (Fall 2008 through Spring 2015)
- Adjunct Professor, “Construction Communications,” Boise State University, College of Engineering, Department of Construction Management, Boise, Idaho (Spring 2012 through Spring 2015)
- Speaker, “Key Construction Industry Contract Provisions,” Transportation Learning Network, Upper Great Plains Transportation Institute, Bismarck, North Dakota (Winter 2013)
- Speaker, “Construction Project Documentation,” Transportation Learning Network, Upper Great Plains Transportation Institute, Bismarck, North Dakota (Winter 2013)
- Speaker, “Construction Project Changes, Claims, and Disputes,” Transportation Learning Network, Upper Great Plains Transportation Institute, Bismarck, North Dakota (Winter 2013)
- Speaker, “Construction Project Documentation, Key Contract Provisions, and Claims,” Idaho Transportation Department, DBE Supportive Services, Boise, Pocatello and Coeur d’Alene, Idaho (Spring 2013)
- Speaker, “Project Changes,” Idaho Transportation Department, DBE Supportive Services, Boise, Idaho (November 2011)
- Speaker, “The Devil in the Details: Key Contract Provisions,” Idaho Transportation Department, DBE Supportive Services, Boise, Idaho (September 2011)
- Speaker, “The Devil in the Details: ‘Red Flag’ Contract Provisions,” Idaho Transportation Department, DBE Supportive Services, Boise, Idaho (April 2010)
- Speaker, “Construction Management Certificate Program: Contract formation and negotiation, contract interpretation, and claim and dispute resolution,” Boise State University, Center for Professional Development (March 2009 and March 2010)
- Guest lecturer, “Construction Contract Law: Contract negotiation; claims; litigation, arbitration, and mediation, and legal research skills,” Boise State University, College of Engineering, Department of Construction Management, Boise, Idaho (Spring 2007)
Wendy ensures that her clients' interests are protected in their construction contracts and related agreements, and she zealously represents them in construction-related claims and disputes.
More About Wendy
Clients involved in the construction process need effective legal counsel to negotiate and implement contract terms that best protect their interests against those of other stakeholders involved in the construction project. Wendy prepares, negotiates, and assists with the implementation of construction contracts and other related agreements for entities involved with or impacted by construction projects. Wendy also advises clients about potential claim matters and other disputes arising during the construction process, so they may be effectively resolved, prosecuted, or defended.
Wendy focuses on providing cost-effective and efficient legal services. She developed uniquely tailored form contracts as the basis for most construction projects with which her clients are involved. These form contracts are especially beneficial for smaller-value projects for her condominium and cooperative apartment clients, because they help to minimize the amount of legal fees incurred to prepare and negotiate the contracts for these projects. Wendy also has significant experience preparing and negotiating construction access license agreements, representing both licensees and licensors, as well as in-court proceedings seeking (or ensuring reasonable terms for) such access.
Wendy began her legal career as a litigator representing government-entity owners in large-scale disputes against general contractors and sureties. After nearly two decades in private practice, Wendy taught construction contract law and construction communications in an undergraduate engineering and construction management program for eight years. There she was able to teach future construction professionals by applying details from real-world construction projects to demonstrate the meaning and application of construction contract provisions, and to illustrate how to effectively document challenges arising on construction projects. Wendy also taught workshops to construction professionals on a wide variety of construction law topics. She leverages her in-depth knowledge of construction contract provisions and extensive litigation experience to guide clients through the entire construction process, from contract drafting, to project counseling, to claims analysis, through dispute resolution.
Wendy focuses on providing cost-effective and efficient legal services. She developed uniquely tailored form contracts as the basis for most construction projects with which her clients are involved. These form contracts are especially beneficial for smaller-value projects for her condominium and cooperative apartment clients, because they help to minimize the amount of legal fees incurred to prepare and negotiate the contracts for these projects. Wendy also has significant experience preparing and negotiating construction access license agreements, representing both licensees and licensors, as well as in-court proceedings seeking (or ensuring reasonable terms for) such access.
Wendy began her legal career as a litigator representing government-entity owners in large-scale disputes against general contractors and sureties. After nearly two decades in private practice, Wendy taught construction contract law and construction communications in an undergraduate engineering and construction management program for eight years. There she was able to teach future construction professionals by applying details from real-world construction projects to demonstrate the meaning and application of construction contract provisions, and to illustrate how to effectively document challenges arising on construction projects. Wendy also taught workshops to construction professionals on a wide variety of construction law topics. She leverages her in-depth knowledge of construction contract provisions and extensive litigation experience to guide clients through the entire construction process, from contract drafting, to project counseling, to claims analysis, through dispute resolution.
- JD, William and Mary Law School
Administrative Law Review, editor
- BA, College of William and Mary
- California
- District of Columbia
- New York
- US Court of Federal Claims
- US District Court, Central District of California
- US District Court, Northern District of California
- US District Court, Southern District of California
- US District Court, District of Columbia
- US District Court, District of Idaho
Related Services
Related Key Industries
- Represented a 60-story condominium building in connection with multimillion-dollar, multiyear façade repair/restoration project; prepared and negotiated the construction contract with the general contractor and four separate construction access license agreements (two with the owners of adjacent properties, one with the tenant preschool of one of the adjacent properties to allow for the preschool to utilize the client’s courtyard as a play area while their roof-top playground was unavailable, and one with the client’s penthouse terrace owner whose terrace would be impacted by the façade project); served as project counsel to assist in the resolution of numerous disputes arising on the project.
- Simultaneously represented 10 private residential property owners, all of whose back yards bordered a site where a school was to be constructed, to prepare and negotiate coordinated construction access license agreements with the school district.
- Represented a 48-story cooperative apartment building in connection with a multimillion-dollar window replacement and façade repair/restoration project; prepared and negotiated the construction contract with the general contractor and a multiphased construction access license agreement with an adjacent property owner and three shareholders; separately prepared and drafted numerous other construction contracts, including for shareholders to have certain window replacement and wall work performed, for elevator repair work, for elevator modernization work, for removal of a gas riser, and for balcony railing extensions.
- Represented a 15-story cooperative apartment building in connection with a façade repair/restoration project; prepared and negotiated the construction contract; prepared and negotiated two construction access license agreements with adjacent property owners, each of whom was also performing a façade repair/restoration project, which required careful coordination of construction work and protection work.
Related News & Insights
-
Attorney Publication
12/14/2023
Now Available! Seyfarth’s 50 State Lien Law Notice Requirements Guide (2023-2024 Edition)
-
Speaking Engagement
Mar 12, 2022
Wendy Wendrowski a Panelist During ASCE-CI Summit & CRC Joint Conference
-
Legal Update
Jun 8, 2020
New York City’s Construction Restart: What Should A Project Owner Expect from Its General Contractor?
-
Legal Update
Apr 9, 2020
New York City’s Construction Shutdown: What if Your Project Is Essential or Necessary to Protect Public Health and Safety? What if Your Project Needs to be Shut Down?
- Women in Construction, Inc. (board of directors, programming committee, scholarship committee)
- American Society of Civil Engineers, Journal of Legal Affairs and Dispute Resolution in Engineering and Construction (editorial board, associate editor)
- American Society of Civil Engineers Construction Institute, Claims Avoidance and Resolution Committee (secretary)
- ACE (Architecture, Construction, Engineering) Mentor Program, District of Columbia (board of directors, governance committee, scholarship committee, alumni committee)
- Alzheimer’s Association, Legal Industry Leadership Council (member)
- Co-Author, "The Government Contract Compliance Handbook, 6th," Federal Publications (2024)
- Author, "New York City’s Construction Restart: What Should A Project Owner Expect from Its General Contractor?," Legal Update, Seyfarth Shaw LLP (June 8, 2020)
- Author, "New York City’s Construction Shutdown: What if Your Project Is Essential or Necessary to Protect Public Health and Safety? What if Your Project Needs to be Shut Down?," Legal Update, Seyfarth Shaw LLP (April 9, 2020)
- Author, "New York City’s Construction Shut Down: What About Façade Projects?," Legal Update, Seyfarth Shaw LLP (March 30, 2020)
- Author, "Construction project documentation: explaining business records exception to the rule against hearsay," International Law Office (January 30, 2017)
-
Panelist, “Changes Impacting Construction Projects for Co-ops and Condos,” New York State Bar Association, Committee on Condominiums and Cooperative Apartments (June 13, 2024)
- Panelist, "The Examination of a Claim: Understanding My Risks," American Society of Civil Engineers Construction Institute’s CI and CRC Joint Conference 2024 (March 22, 2024)
- Speaker, "Access to Adjacent Properties: Protection, Fees, and Court Intervention," New York State Bar Association (January 19, 2023)
- Speaker, "Recognizing Time Impacts and Avoiding Construction Claims," ASCE-CI Summit & CRC Joint Conference, Arlington, VA (March 12, 2022)
- Speaker, “Beware of Financial Risks That You May Accept in Your Contracts - A Discussion of Indemnity Obligations,” ASCE-CI Summit, Los Angeles, CA (February 22, 2020)
- Adjunct Professor, “Construction Contracts and Law,” Boise State University, College of Engineering, Department of Construction Management, Boise, Idaho (Fall 2008 through Spring 2015)
- Adjunct Professor, “Construction Communications,” Boise State University, College of Engineering, Department of Construction Management, Boise, Idaho (Spring 2012 through Spring 2015)
- Speaker, “Key Construction Industry Contract Provisions,” Transportation Learning Network, Upper Great Plains Transportation Institute, Bismarck, North Dakota (Winter 2013)
- Speaker, “Construction Project Documentation,” Transportation Learning Network, Upper Great Plains Transportation Institute, Bismarck, North Dakota (Winter 2013)
- Speaker, “Construction Project Changes, Claims, and Disputes,” Transportation Learning Network, Upper Great Plains Transportation Institute, Bismarck, North Dakota (Winter 2013)
- Speaker, “Construction Project Documentation, Key Contract Provisions, and Claims,” Idaho Transportation Department, DBE Supportive Services, Boise, Pocatello and Coeur d’Alene, Idaho (Spring 2013)
- Speaker, “Project Changes,” Idaho Transportation Department, DBE Supportive Services, Boise, Idaho (November 2011)
- Speaker, “The Devil in the Details: Key Contract Provisions,” Idaho Transportation Department, DBE Supportive Services, Boise, Idaho (September 2011)
- Speaker, “The Devil in the Details: ‘Red Flag’ Contract Provisions,” Idaho Transportation Department, DBE Supportive Services, Boise, Idaho (April 2010)
- Speaker, “Construction Management Certificate Program: Contract formation and negotiation, contract interpretation, and claim and dispute resolution,” Boise State University, Center for Professional Development (March 2009 and March 2010)
- Guest lecturer, “Construction Contract Law: Contract negotiation; claims; litigation, arbitration, and mediation, and legal research skills,” Boise State University, College of Engineering, Department of Construction Management, Boise, Idaho (Spring 2007)